Ephraim's Curious Device by Lita Burke is the second book in her Clockpunk Wizard series. It also happens to be the first book of hers that I have read. I enjoyed this book a great deal. The story follows the characters Sir Bright (a half-elf/half-human) and his business partner Wizard Kadmeion. In order to save a friend, they are forced to go on a quest to retrieve the fabled Ephraim's Curious Device.

Burke’s book, Ephraim's Curious Device, is as if the books of Harry Potter and the Wizard of Oz had a love child. All the characters in this book are very likeable. I absolutely loved Sir Bright, and so do all the magical creatures apparently. I liked that Bright and Kadmeion work so well together. It is obvious they have great chemistry. It is nice to read an adventure book where there in not constant fighting and drama. The thing I liked most about this book is all the different magical creatures that the adventurers encountered. There were harpies, dragons, fairies and a lot more. This is what truly made the book so magical. I now have a new fascination with harpies because of this book.

I really enjoyed Ephraim's Curious Device and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. Burke was able to create a fantasy world that came to life and I wish I could visit. Few authors are able to do this. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about magical worlds.

Do you know what a thingummy is? Would you go in search of one? Wizard Kadmeion and Sir Bright, his assistant, know what one is and went on a quest to get it in Ephraim's Curious Device by Lita Burke. When the two were first summoned to Lord Hissalumieon's presence, they were tempted to kindly turn away the task that the noble had for them. After all, Ephraim's Curious Device was little more than a joke, according to everyone they had ever met. The two couldn't turn down Lord Hissalumieon, however, because the familiar of Wizard Kadmeion, Furgo, had allegedly destroyed some of Hissalumieon's flowers. In order to save their beloved Furgo, Kadmeion and Bright were forced to go on their quest to find the thingummy. Accompanied by four rude Goons, they started off on their quest, visiting an island that was dying in order to find an angry oracle who told them a riddle. From the riddle, they learned that they must find a stick from the Heart of Wrong Swamp, a red feather from the tail of the harpies' queen and the golden scale of a dragon. Each portion of their journey would require the best of their magic and wits if they were to retrieve the thingummy, return unharmed, and free their beloved Furgo.

Lita Burke has captured a fantastic and imaginary place and put it into a spell that will certainly keep the reader trapped within the pages of Ephraim's Curious Device. The characters are well developed and are realistic with a mix of humor and wizardly wisdom. The quest entails plenty of suspenseful moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book certainly shows that Lita knows her way around the world of wizards, fey, elves and fantasy. Packed full of action and intrigue, Ephraim's Curious Device is an excellent addition to the Clockpunk Wizard Series and is sure to keep its readers coming back for more.